NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 2 — The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has warned the public against using banknotes in decorative arrangements, including cash flower bouquets, which have gained popularity as Valentine’s Day and birthday gifts.
In a notice released Monday, CBK highlighted a growing trend where banknotes are folded, rolled, glued, stapled, or pinned in floral and ornamental displays.
The bank said such practices damage currency, making it unsuitable for circulation and disrupting cash-handling systems, including ATMs, cash counting machines, and sorting equipment.
“Such practices compromise the integrity of Kenya Shilling banknotes and render them unsuitable for circulation. This results in increased rejection of banknotes during processing and leads to premature withdrawal and replacement of currency, at an avoidable cost to the public and the Bank,” the notice stated.
While CBK confirmed that giving cash as a gift is acceptable, it emphasized against alteration, defacing, or damaging of currency notes.
3 months in jail
Section 367A of the Penal Code (Cap. 63) criminalizes mutilation or defacement of currency, with offenders facing up to three months in jail.
“Any person who wilfully and without lawful authority or excuse defaces, tears, cuts or otherwise mutilates any currency note shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding two thousand shillings or to both such imprisonment and fine,” the law provides.
CBK urged the public to consider other cash gifts as an aleternative to the popular practise.
“CBK therefore urges the public to refrain from practices that compromise the integrity of Kenya Shilling banknotes and to adopt alternative, non-damaging methods when presenting monetary gifts,” the Bank said.
The Central Bank stressed its commitment to safeguarding the quality and usability of national currency and announced continued public sensitization efforts to protect confidence in Kenya’s money.
The warning comes ahead of the Valentine’s season, when cash bouquets and decorative cash gifts traditionally surge across the country.
